A variety of business organizations and networks thrive in communities throughout south central Minnesota. One such organization, Women Executives in Business (W.E.B.), is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. W.E.B. is an area-wide networking and educational organization for women who are, or aspire to be, business owners, entrepreneurs, executives or managers.
Waseca city leaders are planning for the future, by studying the past. Waseca, like many rural cities, has had many notable entrepreneurs such as EF Johnson (EF Johnson Company), Bumps Brown (Brown Printing), and George Herter (Herter’s Outdoor Goods). As they grew their companies, they spawned many other ventures in Waseca many of which are still around.
Over the past few years, community leaders in New Ulm began noticing a troubling trend; like many cities, New Ulm was seeing a steady erosion of affordable housing supply as properties that were originally developed using federal subsidies started being converted to market-rate housing.
In this issue, I would like to highlight a trio of collaborations from throughout our region. These three stories highlight the importance of different groups coming together to solve a common problem and along the way enriching our communities.
When Kurt Brauman found out Walmart was transferring him to Mankato, Minnesota from Mount Pleasant, Iowa to work logistics at the new distribution center, well, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Mankato would be a community much bigger than where he came from.
They’ve spent the last year cultivating awareness and sowing the seeds for the future. In this next year, the key players in the GreenSeam hope to harvest even greater results than what’s already been accomplished.
Right about this time of year, every year, Minnesota can be known not only as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but also the Land of 10,000 Festivals. It seems every small town found in every nook and cranny of the state holds some type of summer celebration. The festivals have not only social benefits, but great economic benefits to communities as well.
From the outside, and even to those in the local business community, it may have appeared to be just a small business transaction. One small business being acquired by another. To those involved closely in the deal, though, it was so much more.
With the emergence of networking groups and the growth of the Internet and social media sites, the local chamber of commerce is no longer the only game in town for businesses. Data shows in many cities nationwide, chamber membership is stagnant if not declining. Yet, for more than a century now, chambers have fostered economic vitality in the communities they serve and have been the trusted, unified voice for millions of businesses.
